JPH0532966Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a variable resistor whose resistance value is switched by a membrane switch.

[Prior art]

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a circuit configuration of a variable resistor configured to switch resistance values using a conventional membrane switch. As shown in the figure, in the conventional variable resistor, a membrane switch section 21 for switching the resistance value and a resistor section 22 are separate parts, and each electrode of the membrane switches 21a to 21f and the resistors 22a to 22g are connected by lead wires. Connected by l ₁ to _{l 7} . In FIG. 8, _T1 to _T3 are terminals. For example, when terminal _T2 is grounded and a predetermined voltage is applied to terminal _T1 , each membrane switch 21a to 21f is turned on from terminal _T3 . At each time, a voltage value at a level opposite to the resistance value of the resistors 22a to 22g is output.

[Problem that the invention attempts to solve]

However, in the conventional variable resistor having the above configuration, the membrane switch section 21 and the resistor section 2
The number of lead wires l ₁ to _{l 7} connecting 2 increases with the number of switches, which impedes miniaturization of the variable resistor, and when incorporating the variable resistor into electronic equipment,
The drawback is that the assembly work is difficult.
In addition, in recent electronic equipment such as audio equipment,
The operating section is always housed within the device housing and is configured to be exposed at the front of the housing during operation.
There is a so-called retractable operating device, and as described above, a variable resistor in which the membrane switch section 21 and the resistor section 22 are separate structures is used in the retractable operating device, and the membrane switch section 21 is provided outside the housing and the resistor section 22 is used.
is provided in the housing and the membrane switch section 21 is configured to be rotatable, the lead wires l ₁ to l ₇ connecting the membrane switch section 21 and the resistor section 22 are
An increase in the number of membrane switch sections 21 has disadvantages in that the movability of the membrane switch section 21 is poor and assembly work becomes difficult.

The present invention was developed in view of the above points, and by forming the strip resistor that constitutes the resistor inside the membrane switch part, there is no need to connect the membrane switch and the resistor with lead wires.
A variable resistor that can select different resistance values with a membrane switch is made into a single electronic component, and is small and easy to assemble, and also has good rotational performance of the operating part when used in a retractable operating device of electronic equipment. Our goal is to provide the following.

[Means for solving problems]

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention forms the variable resistance forming part and the lead wire pattern forming part with a flexible base film made of a single resin material, and the variable resistance forming part of the flexible base film On the top, a plurality of switch electrodes constituting a membrane switch are printed on one side with the folding line in between, and a strip resistor is printed on the top, and each switch electrode and the strip resistor are connected in the longitudinal direction. A wiring pattern connecting a plurality of predetermined positions is printed, and a plurality of other switch electrodes constituting a membrane switch are printed and formed on the other side across the folded line, and the plurality of switch electrodes are Printing and forming a common wiring pattern to be connected, and printing and forming a lead wire pattern to be connected to at least one end of the strip resistor on the lead wire pattern forming portion of the flexible base film,
The lead wire pattern connected to the common wiring pattern is printed and formed, the base film is folded around the folding line with a spacer interposed, and one switch electrode and the other switch electrode constituting the membrane switch are attached to the spacer. The lead wires are arranged opposite to each other through holes, and the plurality of switch electrodes arranged opposite to each other are selectively brought into contact with each other to obtain different resistance values between the lead wires. .

[Effect]

By configuring the variable resistor as described above,
Since the resistor is housed in the membrane switch section, the variable resistor can be made smaller, and there is no need to connect the membrane switch section and the resistor section using lead wires, allowing the variable resistor to be incorporated into electrical equipment. Assembling work becomes easier because the number of lead wires required is significantly reduced. Furthermore, since the strip-shaped resistor is printed at once, the resistance value is stabilized. Furthermore, the variable resistor can be used for color TVs and VTRs.
When used in a retractable operating device for electronic equipment such as the It will be excellent.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be described based on the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a variable resistor according to the present invention,
FIG. 2A is a plan view, FIG. 2B is a partially enlarged sectional view taken along the line A-A' in FIG. 1A, and FIG. As shown in the figure, the variable resistor includes a base film 1, a spacer 10, and a top sheet 1.
Consists of 2nd prize.

The base film 1 is made of a resin material such as polyester, as shown in FIG.
and a lead wire portion 1 continuous to the variable resistor portion 14.
5, and one switch electrode 3 constituting a membrane switch is disposed on one side of the variable resistor section 14 of the base film 1 with the fold line B-B' in between. A wiring pattern 5- is printed in which a plurality of strip resistors 4 are printed and each of the switch electrodes 3 is connected to a plurality of predetermined positions in the longitudinal direction of the strip resistor 4.
1 is printed, and a plurality of other switch electrodes 2 constituting the membrane switch are printed on the other side across the folding line B-B', and a common wiring pattern 5 to which the plurality of switch electrodes are connected is printed. -2
print. On the surface of the lead wire portion of the base film 1, a lead wire pattern 6-1 connected to both ends of the strip resistor 4 is printed, and a lead wire pattern 6-1 connected to the common wiring pattern 5-2 is printed.
Print 2. In this way, switch electrode pair 2,
3, strip resistor 4, wiring pattern 5-1, common wiring pattern 5-2, and lead wire pattern 6-1,
6-2 is formed on the surface of the base film 1,
As shown in FIG. 1C, lead wire pattern 6-1,
The base film 1 is completed by forming an insulating coating 9 made of synthetic resin on the surface except for the terminal portion 8 of 6-2 and the switch electrode pair 2, 3. In FIG. 2, 1a is the fold line B- of the base film 1.
This notch is formed near B' and is used to ensure smooth folding of the base film 1 as will be described later.

As shown in FIG. 3, the spacer 10 connects the variable resistor portion 14 of the base film 1 to
The spacer 10 is an insulating plate made of resin or the like and has a shape and size that is folded in half with B' as the center. A hole 11 larger than the shape and dimensions is provided.

As shown in FIG. 5a, the top sheet 12 is a flexible sheet made of a resin material or the like, and on the surface of the top sheet 12, there are provided on the front surface of the base film 1 corresponding to the positions of the switch electrode pairs 2 and 3. , mark 13 indicating the membrane switch position and its function
(For example, REW, PLAY,
FFWD, STOP, etc.) are printed on it.

To assemble the variable resistor, as shown in FIG.
With the side on which the switch electrode pairs 2, 3, etc. are printed facing inside, fold it around the fold line B-B' and fix it with an adhesive or the like. The surface sheet 12 shown in FIG.
A variable resistor is completed by attaching the two with an adhesive or the like.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the circuit configuration of the variable resistor, and as shown in the figure, a membrane switch M ₁ consisting of a pair of switch electrodes 2 and 3 is installed in the variable resistor section 14.
.about.M ₆ and resistors R ₁ to _{R 7} each consisting of a strip resistor 4 are housed. Note that T ₁ , T ₂ , and T ₃ are terminals, and the lead wire patterns 6-1 and 6-1 of the lead wire portion 15 are terminals.
This corresponds to the tip of 6-2. In the circuit shown in Figure 6, when terminal T ₂ is grounded and a predetermined voltage is applied to terminal T ₁ , each membrane switch is connected from terminal T ₃ .
Every time M ₁ to _{M 6} are turned on, voltage values at levels corresponding to the resistance values of resistors R ₁ to _{R 7} are output. Therefore, by determining the voltage value output from terminal _T3 of the variable resistor configured as described above, it is possible to determine which of the membrane switches _M1 to _M6 has been pressed. It can be used as an operating switch.

FIG. 7 is a partial sectional view showing an example of the case where the variable resistor is used in a retractable operating device for electronic equipment. As shown in the figure, a hole 17 for attaching an operating device is formed in the front of a housing 16 of the electronic device, and a variable resistor with a triangular cross section is installed in the hole 17.
A base body 18 to which the VR is attached is rotatably supported by a support shaft member 19, and a variable resistor VR having the above structure is attached to the surface of the base body 18 with double-sided adhesive tape 20 attached to the back side as shown in FIG. 5b. Fix it.

By configuring the retractable operating device as described above, the base 18 and the variable resistor VR are normally stored inside the housing 16 as shown by the dotted line, and the base 18 is centered around the support shaft member 19 during operation. The electronic device can be operated by turning the membrane switch of the variable resistor ON and OFF by rotating it in the direction of arrow C and projecting it outward as shown by the solid line. In this case, the lead wire portion 15 of the base film 1 constituting the variable resistor VR has a small lead wire pattern 6.
Since it is configured as an extremely thin so-called flat cable with a
Its durability is improved.

In the above embodiment, the base film 1 includes switch electrode pairs 2 and 3, which serve as membrane switches.
Band-shaped resistor 4, wiring pattern 5-1, common wiring pattern 5-2, and lead wire patterns 6-1, 6-
Although an example is shown in which only the switch electrode pair 2, which constitutes the lowest variable resistor, is printed on the base film 1, it is of course possible to form a print pattern of other electronic component elements on the base film 1. 3, strip resistor 4, wiring pattern 5-1, common wiring pattern 5
-2 and lead wire patterns 6-1 and 6-2 may be printed on the same base film 1.

[Effect of idea]

As explained above, according to the present invention, the following excellent effects can be obtained.

(1) Different resistance values can be obtained between lead wire patterns by printing the electrode pairs and strip resistors of multiple membrane switches on the same base film and selectively pressing multiple membrane switches. Therefore, the variable resistor that can selectively obtain a resistance value can be made thin and small.

(2) In addition, lead wires connecting the membrane switch section and resistor section are no longer required, and the number of lead wires needed to incorporate the variable resistor into electrical equipment is greatly reduced, making it easier to assemble electronic equipment. .

(3) Also, since the switch electrode pair and the strip resistor can be printed at the same time, the resistance value is stabilized.

(4) In addition, if a variable resistor is used as an operating unit that can be stored in the housing of an electronic device via a rotating mechanism,
Since the lead wire part is made of a thin flat cable, the rotation performance of the operating section is improved, and at the same time,
Since the variable resistor is thin and small, the space occupied by the variable resistor inside the housing is extremely small, and the inside of the housing can be used effectively.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a variable resistor according to the present invention,
Figure a is a plan view, Figure b is a partially enlarged sectional view taken along line A-A' in Figure A, Figure c is a plan view showing the base film, Figure 2 is a plan view showing the base film,
Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the spacer, Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the assembled state of the spacer and base film, Fig. 5 a is a perspective view showing the top sheet, and Fig. 5 b is the assembled state of the spacer and base film. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the circuit configuration of the variable resistor according to the present invention, and FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional view showing an example of the case where the variable resistor is used in a retractable operating device for electronic equipment. ,
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the circuit configuration of a conventional variable resistor. In the figure, 1... Base film, 2, 3... Switch electrode pair, 4... Strip resistor, 5... Wiring pattern, 6... Lead wire pattern, 9... Insulating coating, 10... Spacer, 12 ...Front sheet.

Claims (1)

[Claims for Utility Model Registration] A variable resistance forming part and a lead wire pattern forming part are formed of a flexible base film made of a single resin material, and the variable resistance forming part is formed on the variable resistance forming part of the flexible base film. In this method, a plurality of switch electrodes constituting a membrane switch are printed on one side with a folding line in between, and a strip resistor is also printed.
A wiring pattern connecting each of the switch electrodes and a plurality of predetermined positions in the longitudinal direction of the strip resistor is formed by printing, and further, on the other side with the folded line in between, the other switch electrode constituting the membrane switch is formed. At the same time, a common wiring pattern to which the plurality of switch electrodes are connected is printed and formed, and a common wiring pattern to which the plurality of switch electrodes are connected is printed and formed on at least one end of the strip resistor on the lead wire pattern forming portion of the flexible base film. printing and forming a lead wire pattern to be connected, and printing and forming a lead wire pattern to be connected to the common wiring pattern, and folding the base film around the folding line with a spacer interposed therebetween to form the membrane switch. By arranging one switch electrode and the other switch electrode facing each other through a hole provided in the spacer, and selectively bringing the plurality of switch electrodes arranged facing each other into contact with each other, A variable resistor characterized in that it is configured to obtain different resistance values between lead wires.